Celebrity publicity rights law will likely give rise to numerous lawsuits in the coming years, as reality television and stars like Kim Kardashian who are famous for being famous bring the worlds of celebrity and business closer and closer together. Publicity rights has developed rapidly since emerging in the 1950s and 1960s, but these days seem to be perfect for celebrities to test how far they can go in protecting their image or brand.
Another reality star, Jersey Shore’s Snooki, is involved in a pricey lawsuit over protecting her image. Snooki teamed up with a marketing firm last year to sell various Snooki-related items to the public. She ended the relationship when she felt that the company was not fulfilling its obligations by failing to promote her and associate her with as many brands as possible. Consequently, Snooki brought a $7 million lawsuit against the company.
The company counters that Snooki sabotaged their deal herself in her endless efforts at self-promotion. It claims that she was working with the US Olympic Committee and Marilyn Monroe’s estate on her own merchandising deals despite having already signed a separate deal with the company now facing a lawsuit from her.
Love them or hate them, the majority of these reality stars are not clueless when it comes to promoting themselves. They make millions from their business deals and use their initial rise to fame to branch out into other endeavors, ensuring that they stay in the public eye.
Are you involved in the celebrity industry? How did you take advantage of publicity rights to extend a celebrity’s brand?
Klein Trial Lawyers – Los Angeles business litigation attorneys